Northfield, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Northfield: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Northfield and Rice County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Rice County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
7 of 543 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Rice County compares with Minnesota
Rice County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Rice County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Rice County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 66.1 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 1.7× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.37 | 0.37 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.2% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 57% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 36.6% | 25.6% | 6.2% | 1.4× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.7% | 27.0% | 23.7% | 16% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 29.3% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 1.5× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 52.2% | 46.2% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 22.3% | 20.3% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Compared with Minnesota, Rice County is lower on garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). It runs above Minnesota on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
Rice County at a glance: 1 in 83 crashes involve a garbage truck (7 since 2015), vs 2.8% across Minnesota.
Overview
Police reported 543 crashes involving commercial trucks in Rice County since 2015: 206 people were injured and 15 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 8 days in fully reported years.
With 35 truck crashes reported in Northfield since 2015, this page uses Rice County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in December (13.8% of the year) and are lowest in May (4.6%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 52.2% of truck crashes, against 46.2% across Minnesota.
More truck crashes happen at 11 am–12 pm than at any other hour (8.3%).
Road surface: 36.6% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Minnesota: 25.6%).
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Northfield since 2015: I-35 (2), SR-19 (2), CR-23 (1), CR-47 (1) and CR-86 30Th St W (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 7 crashes, 1.3% of the total, against 2.8% across Minnesota.
Route planning tips for Northfield fleets
- Build extra time into December routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- With 36.6% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Minnesota), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Rice County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-35 | 2 |
| SR-19 | 2 |
| CR-23 | 1 |
| CR-47 | 1 |
| CR-86 30Th St W | 1 |
| SR-3 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Rice County) |
|---|---|
| I-35 | 108 |
| 7Th St Nw | 23 |
| Morristown Blvd | 11 |
| Lonsdale Blvd | 8 |
| Mnth 21 | 6 |
| Sb I-35 65 Mm | 6 |
| Faribault Blvd | 6 |
| Cabot Ave | 6 |
Northfield at a glance
| Population | 21,316 |
| Land area | 8.5 sq mi |
| Density | 2,495 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 55057) | $92,622 |
| Median home value (ZIP 55057) | $361,756 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Rice County since the 1990s
Combines the FMCSA crash file (all reported truck crashes, real coverage from about 1990) with NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes involving a large truck, 1982–2024).
| Decade | Truck crashes / yr | Change | Fatal crashes / yr (FARS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 17 | — | 1.3 |
| 2000s | 35 | +105% | 1.8 |
| 2010s | 40 | +14% | 0.8 |
| 2020s | 47 | +17% | 1.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 17 a year in the 1990s and 47 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.2 a year in 2016–19 and 1.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Northfield
How common are truck crashes in Northfield?
Since 2015, 543 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Rice County (206 injured, 15 killed).
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Northfield?
The worst month is December: 13.8% of truck crashes in Rice County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Northfield?
Garbage trucks were involved in 7 reported crashes in Rice County since 2015 (1.3% of truck crashes).
How does Northfield compare with Minnesota for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Rice County has 66.1 truck crashes a year; Minnesota has 39.0.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Northfield?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.